CLEVELAND -- The Tennessee Titans dialed up the perfect play call and Derrick Henry took a screen pass 75 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter on Sunday.
Derrick Henry + 75 yards of green grass! 😃@KingHenry_2 | #TENvsCLE pic.twitter.com/kBl3I7RyAq
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 8, 2019
Tennessee was desperately in need of an answer to a David Njoku 3-yard touchdown reception that put the Browns up 15-13 with 2:10 remaining in the quarter. Henry caught the pass and allowed Rodger Saffold to wipe out one of the Browns' defensive backs before he outraced everyone for the touchdown, reaching a max speed of 20.93 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Derrick Henry's touchdown reception. I think every defender except 58 (and maybe 21) is moving left to right at the time of the pass.
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) September 8, 2019
(@NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/YjrTxZQ3uH
With Henry doing most of the work, the long touchdown play tied for the longest completion for quarterback Marcus Mariota's career. Mariota had only five passes of 40 yards or more last year. Henry's 75-yard touchdown, along with 51- and 47-yard receptions by rookie wideout A.J. Brown, gives him three in the season opener.
Henry also had a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. It's the first game of his career in which he has posted a rushing and receiving TD.
His 75-yard TD put the Titans up 22-13.